The Romanesque Churches of Sardinia (Italy): Digital Documentation and Investigation on Their Construction Materials and Architectonic Aspects

The Sardinia Island is in the core area of the Mediterranean Sea. Its position has made it the crossing point of many cultural and political events, but at the same time its isolation has favoured the manifestation of specific and unique Cultural Heritage phenomena. The network of the Romanesque churches disseminated all around this island clearly shows how an architectural language can be declined in its architectonic aspects. On the bases of different architectural characteristics and petrophysical features of their lithology, 18 significant churches have been chosen from the different medieval geographical- political areas of the Sardinia "Giudicati". Each of these were surveyed with the following methods: photography, 3D Laser Scanner for the whole interior and exterior parts, 3D photogrammetry of a selected set of stone surface samples, direct sampling of representative rocks for geochemical and petrophysical analysis. All data were then treated and analysed to deepen the knowledge about the most meaningful aspects of different construction techniques and use of materials, provenance of raw materials, stone and structure alterations. As the result, a base was created to read common behaviours, design choices, recursive constructive solutions, and the "models" guiding the ancient intentions. This contribution will present the progress state of this research and its results.